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Peter talks about a number of things but keeps coming back to the theme of a limited amount of time, there is an end coming. The question then is how should I be using the time I have left?
Christians need to keep learning to think like Jesus. People who think like Jesus are a serious threat to the kingdom of darkness. Christians who don’t think like Jesus aren’t very well equipped. People who think like Jesus will change as they learn to see as Jesus does.
What did Jesus slow down for? Who or what did Jesus make time for?
Be serious about life and prayer. We need to realize that life is a very serious business. This doesn’t mean that we can’t be light hearted and can’t enjoy jokes, but there needs to be room for volleyball, playing games, being silly, etc. Behind all of this though, we need to stay anchored to the reality that life is very serious.
Love and serve the body of Christ. Peter isn’t talking about sins being ignored. Even as we are learning to think and be more like Jesus, we are human and we will make mistakes. Even though this is the case, love is the thing that can help us make things right.
Be hospitable without grumbling. Often we bump into little issues when we consider helping others. What might cause us to grumble in situations like this, extra work, loss of personal space, can cost money, etc. The end goal here is to serve the Body of Christ and to bring glory to God.
These are things that the world needs to see us doing. As we love and care for each other we also experience God’s love in a deeper, fuller way.
It is a lot harder to accept difficulty if we think that no one else has to go through it. Peter is saying here that it is not strange, nor uncommon to endure trials. In verse 17 Peter says that the process of being saved can, and often does, require some difficulties. Difficulties are normal occurrences for the Christian. If we’re following Jesus and He carried a cross, might we expect some trouble too?
Why did Peter choose the word “Creator” here at the end of 1 Peter 4. Jesus will continue to work on us. He is reminding us where we came from.
So, how should we be spending the rest of our lives?
- Keep learning to think like Jesus.
- Think seriously about life and let that fuel your prayer life.
- Be involved in the body with loving service.
- Expect difficulty and trust God with it.
Scriptures mentioned – 1 Peter 4:1-19, Proverbs 10:12